Page 124 - The Bugle 2018

Trophy in hand, LCpl Sedgwick’s winning section (plus 17 Pl HQ); we also picked up a Ranger from the London Irish Rifles (top left); expect more to follow (trophies!)
RECRUITING
AND RECRUIT
TRAINING IS
ULTIMATELY
EVERYONE’S
BUSINESS AT
F COY, AND
NEWCOMERS
ARE MADE
TO FEEL
PART OF THE COMPANY FROM DAY ONE
F (RIFLES) Company Londons
Introduction. F Company has now re-subordi- nated to the London Regiment (LONDONS) as F (RIFLES) Company. Keeping the RIFLES cap-badge in all forms of dress and remaining within the wider Regimental family, whilst reporting into London District, has ensured our transfer has been successful. We continue to fully lean in to help iron out the practicalities of matrix management and there is a real sense of willingness to leverage our best practice, which has helped us feel welcome. We have rapidly settled into our new Battalion, winning the Patrols Competition in January, building on last year’s coronation as Champion Company 7 RIFLES a few months before.
Manning
At 100% of trained strength at point of re-subordi- nation, we lost a third to set up the Mortar Pl for G Coy 7 RIFLES at Mile End. We have set ourselves a two-year target to re-grow the lost third and win this game of ‘trained strength snakes and ladders’. To achieve this, we have:
• consolidated 17 Pl as our centre of mass for Rifle Pl training, (from which to re-grow 18 Pl)
• formed a new Sp Wps Pl; a Manoeuvre Support Group is the start point to a MG SF Pl
• used available Sp Wpns PIDs to build pockets of capability, giving further opportunities for senior Riflemen and experienced JNCOs. An Intelli- gence, Influence and Media Cell supports Coy HQ on exercise and with recruiting, we plan to grow Assault Pioneer and Patrols teams, will send our best shots on Sniper courses, and will work in more Bugling
Recruits
Now more than ever F Coy’s first rate Company Recruiting Team under LCpl English, and Recruit Mentoring and Training Team under CSjt Campbell, must continue as the sub-unit level centres of excel- lence they have become. That said, recruiting and recruit training is ultimately everyone’s business at F Coy, and newcomers are made to feel part of the Company from day one. This construct and ethos has seen 16 new Riflemen trained in the last 9 months alone.
Training
A great hook for all this, will be Ex SOUTHERN WARRIOR, this year’s Annual Training Period in the FALKLAND ISLANDS. We are soon to start our build up training to this, a progressive live firing and dry training package focussed on sections and junior commanders. We have been fully engaged in planning the “Falklands Series”, the intent of which is to enable a start state to take us to CT1-2 live firing and CT0-1 long range patrolling by the end of the deployment. Where qualifications allow, we continue to plan and safely deliver our own training, advised and mentored by embedded SNCOs from regular RIFLES units (currently known as PSIs).
Relocation
F Company’s move from Davies Street, also the RIFLES’ spiritual London home, to Hammersmith under Op MOLTON will help us to re-grow. Whilst not a geographic option for those based in East London, for many others we expect it will prove as convenient a location as Davies Street has to F
130 SEVENTH BATTALION
THE RIFLES